A good mattress is essential for getting a refreshing night's sleep. The materials used in a mattress play a crucial role in its comfort, firmness and support. With so many mattress options on the market, it can be challenging to determine which one to choose -- especially with online purchases where you can't test the mattress before buying it. In this mattress materials guide, we explore each type of mattress material, from the most popular to to the most niche.
Whether it's the contouring support of memory foam, the springiness of latex or the classic responsiveness of innerspring coils, each offers unique benefits tailored to different sleep preferences and needs. Understanding these materials not only enhances your shopping experience, but also helps you select a mattress that aligns with your requirements for comfort, support, and durability.
Memory foam was originally developed by NASA in the 1960s to enhance the safety of aircraft cushions, providing better support and comfort during takeoff and landing. Given this, it's not surprising that this innovative material made its way to mattresses and gained popularity quickly due to its unique characteristics. Our seasoned editors chose the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress as the best memory foam mattress overall.
Unlike traditional innerspring beds, memory foam is slow to respond, which means that when pressure is applied, the foam gradually conforms to the body, providing personalized comfort and support. Due to the body-contouring nature of memory foam, it can feel like you're being cradled or hugged by the material.
Another popular characteristic of memory foam is its pressure-relieving capabilities, which is particularly helpful for side sleepers, who often experience pressure around their shoulders and hips. "Memory foam, also known as poly viscose foam, can be very conforming to the body (which is something polyurethane foam doesn't do), allowing for relief for pressure points on shoulders and hips while offering very nice support," says Kristen Olson-Turner, Senior Director of Strategic Sourcing at Purple Mattress. Olsen-Turner also stresses that all memory foam does not feel the same and there is a wide variety of feel options.
A common complaint when sleeping on memory foam is overheating. One method some brands use to combat heat build-up in foam is to infuse it with gel. This can be done in various ways, such as dispersing gel evenly throughout the memory foam or using a solid layer of gel, which is done more so in gel-infused pillows. Gel-infused foams can provide an immediate cooling sensation and help dissipate heat. However, some people may find the feel is not as soft or responsive, and gel-infused foams typically come at a higher cost.
Another type of foam used in mattresses is polyurethane. It's typically lighter and less expensive. Plus, if the polyurethane foam is "open cell" it's more breathable and won't trap heat like traditional memory foam. Poly foam is found in the Leesa Original Mattress and Tuft & Needle Original.
While it feels soft and squishy, the downside is that it does not offer the same contouring effect as memory foam. The feel of polyurethane foam can vary based on its quality, which affects its pressure-relief capabilities and generally speaking it isn't as effective as memory foam in that department. However, this characteristic can benefit those who enjoy the feel of foam but prefer not to feel "stuck" when changing positions.
Latex is known for its excellent support and durability. A benefit to latex, "[It] gives a 'float' experience that offers more pressure relief without the sunk in feeling of memory foam," says Olsen-Turner. The material also has a spring-back sensation when moving around, making it easy to change positions. Additionally, latex mattresses have a perforated design that promotes airflow, which helps prevent heat build-up.
One of the drawbacks of latex mattresses is that they can get pricey and quite heavy, making them more difficult to move. Also, some sleepers may not enjoy the slight bouncing sensation.
Latex can be made from different sources. Natural latex is made from the sap of rubber trees, while synthetic latex is produced from various chemicals. Certified organic latex mattresses, like the Avocado Green, meet specific criteria for limited to no chemical use and adheres to social and environmental standards set by third-party organizations like the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
The two types of latex are Dunlop and Talalay latex, which are very similar but are manufactured differently. While some people claim one type is softer than the other, this isn't always the case and you can barely tell the difference while lying on a mattress.
Innersprings have been a staple in mattresses for years, though they are falling out of favor as mattress materials advance. While innerspring mattresses provide a bouncy feel and excellent airflow, the springs' interconnected design means they transfer motion easily and don't contour to the body as effectively as other materials.
Most hybrid mattresses these days are made with pocketed coils, like the Leesa Sapira Chill or Helix Midnight Luxe. Pocketed coils differ from traditional innerspring systems in that they consist of individual coils encased in fabric pockets, allowing them to move independently rather than as one. One significant advantage of pocketed coils is that they don't transfer as much motion throughout the mattress (a plus for couples who share a mattress). With pocketed coils, when one coil moves it does not cause other coils to move preventing motion transfer. One downside to pocketed coils is that they are typically more expensive than all-foam mattresses.
Some brands use proprietary materials specific to their mattresses, especially when it comes to foam, cooling foams and others. One distinctive proprietary material is the hyper-elastic polymer from Purple. The brand shapes the material into a grid-like pattern and is used in the comfort layer of the Purple mattresses. It is easily recognizable due to its bright purple color and unique texture, which differs from memory foam and latex. The Purple grid feels squishy and flexible with a slight bounce-back, and the open grid design makes it extremely breathable.
Regardless of materials used, it's important that your mattress is made of high-quality materials if you want to invest in your rest.
When shopping for a mattress, you can either have an all-foam bed or hybrid and there are pros and cons for each.
Hybrid mattresses typically provide a more responsive feel due to the coils. "A hybrid typically gives better pressure relief [than an innerspring mattress] because it allows more give for your hips and shoulders. Also, [it] tends to sleep a little cooler than the typical foam mattress," says Olson-Turner. These advantages make hybrids an excellent choice for a variety of sleeping positions and those who sleep hot. In addition, hybrids are also better for heavy people over 250 pounds. "A poor quality support layer makes a mattress hammock or creates dips over time. For comfort layers, the higher the density of foam (along with the type) not only delivers amazing pressure relief but keeps your mattress from dipping," says Olson-Turner. However, some people might find the responsive feel too bouncy, and hybrids can be heavy, making them difficult to move.
All-foam mattresses feel much more solid and stable compared to hybrids, which some people may prefer. The stable feel of all-foam mattresses makes them an all-star when it comes to preventing motion transfer. Couples who are sensitive to movement while sleeping may prefer an all-foam mattress for this reason. Memory foam mattresses excel at contouring to the body, providing personalized pressure relief, and many people enjoy the "hugging" sensation. However, a common complaint about memory foam is that it can retain heat, and some sleepers may feel "stuck" in the mattress when trying to change positions (a downside for combination sleepers).
At Forbes Vetted, we have spent thousands of hours testing and researching mattress and bedding stories. We rely on our own experience as well as the expertise of mattress experts.